Houston Medical Center Receives Certificate Of Need Approval For Tower Expansion And Facility Renovation
Houston Medical Center has received Certificate of Need approval from the Georgia Department of Community Health which will allow the hospital to begin construction on a new five-story Northwest Tower. The 130,581-square-foot tower will provide Houston Medical Center with an additional 18 medical/surgical beds as well as additional observation/23 hour patient beds. The project also includes new construction and more than 21,000 square feet of renovated space for ancillary support services including Dietary, Clinical Laboratory and Central Sterile Supply. Other improved areas will include expanded space for admissions and patient registration, education and meeting rooms, lobby and public areas, as well as new parking areas and improved access to the campus.
According to Skip Philips, Administrator of Houston Medical Center, the new tower will enable the hospital to accommodate the growth in patient volumes.
“We have a critical need for inpatient beds. Houston Medical Center has experienced tremendous growth in almost every service area of our facility including inpatient admissions, surgeries, emergency department visits, radiology and laboratory tests,” he explained. “With the growth in population that we are experiencing and continue to anticipate, we must be able to meet the needs of the community. The new tower along with the future phases of our master facilities plan clearly addresses how we need to allow for growth through 2020 – 2025 with both new construction and renovated facilities at this campus.”
“Our master facility plan is truly a blueprint of how the Houston Medical Center campus can develop and expand to meet the demands of our service area’s growing population through 2025 in a series of phases,” said Dr. Tony Alford, CEO of Houston Healthcare. “The key to the plan is flexibility, so that the plan can adapt as the future unfolds. Not only does it outline where new expansions can occur for future growth, it also provides a way to eventually retire and even replace old buildings which will help us maintain a first-class medical center for our community.”
The project is being designed by HKS, Inc., a healthcare facility planning and architectural firm in Atlanta, and WMA Architects, Inc. of Macon. The general contractor for the project is Gilbane, Inc. of Atlanta. The total estimated cost of construction, furnishings, fixtures and equipment is $59.1 million, and the project is expected to be completed in 2009.